The Katsina State Government has taken a bold step toward community development by approving the allocation of ₦20 million to each Local Government Area (LGA) for the comprehensive renovation of graveyards across the state. The initiative, which was officially announced by Governor Dikko Umar Radda, reflects the administration’s commitment to upholding cultural and religious values while also ensuring dignity for the departed. The project is expected to cover all 34 LGAs, improving the condition of cemeteries and making them more accessible and well-kept for residents who visit to honor their loved ones.
Governor Radda made this declaration on Thursday in Katsina during a significant meeting with royal fathers from both the Katsina and Daura Emirates. In his remarks, he emphasized that the renovation of graveyards should not be seen merely as infrastructure development but as an act of service to humanity and a spiritual endeavor aimed at seeking Allah’s blessings for the state and its people. He reiterated that the decision aligns with his administration’s broader vision of combining infrastructural progress with spiritual and moral responsibility.
In addition to the graveyard renovation project, Governor Radda unveiled a new and far-reaching welfare package designed to strengthen the roles of traditional rulers and religious leaders across the state. According to the governor, a new law passed by the Katsina State House of Assembly now ensures that all District Heads will earn salaries not less than Grade Level 16, giving them a stronger financial base to perform their duties effectively. This marks a significant shift in supporting traditional institutions, which have long played a central role in conflict resolution, governance, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the governor disclosed that 6,652 Ward Heads across the state will now begin to receive monthly allowances, thereby recognizing their role in grassroots administration. Over 3,000 Imams and their deputies serving in Friday Mosques will also be beneficiaries of stipends to support their work in guiding communities spiritually. Extending the welfare package even further, Governor Radda announced that mosque sweepers under the Izala and Darika sects across all 34 LGAs will also be included in the scheme, ensuring that even those performing the most basic but essential religious services are supported by the state.
Governor Radda used the occasion to highlight the administration’s unrelenting focus on tackling insecurity in the region. He revealed that more than 1,500 youths have already been trained, fully equipped, and strategically deployed to complement the efforts of security agencies operating in the state. Stressing the importance of collective responsibility, he called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to actively raise awareness within their communities. According to him, the fight against insecurity can only succeed when all stakeholders share the responsibility of vigilance, cooperation, and collaboration.
During the event, expressions of solidarity poured in for the governor. The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq-Umar, who was represented by the District Head of Baure, Alhaji Daha Umar-Farouq, extended his goodwill and prayers to the governor following his recent car accident in Daura. He noted that the people of Daura Emirate stand firmly behind the governor and his administration as they work to bring development and peace to Katsina State. The gesture was a reminder of the strong bond between traditional institutions and the government.
On his part, the Wazirin Katsina, Senator Ibrahim Ida, who represented the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman, praised Governor Radda’s reforms, describing them as transformative and far-reaching. He observed that the governor’s policies have restored dignity to traditional rulers and given them renewed relevance in governance, thereby reinforcing their position as custodians of peace, unity, and cultural values. He further assured the governor that the Emirate Council would continue to support the government through prayers, advice, and cooperation in order to sustain peace and strengthen social cohesion across the state.
With the dual focus on infrastructural renewal, welfare enhancement, and security, Governor Radda’s latest initiatives have been widely interpreted as a holistic approach to governance. The combination of spiritual undertones with practical development measures has set a new tone in Katsina State, demonstrating that the administration is not only concerned with material progress but also with the moral and spiritual well-being of its people. The announcement has already generated widespread attention and is expected to make a lasting impact on both the physical and spiritual landscapes of Katsina communities.